12 years old Alena Wicker Start College This year, With Plans to work for NASA

(ATLANTA, GA) Exclusive:  12-year-old girl from Arizona is set to attend college with plans to become a NASA scientist after graduation. Alena Wicker is well on her way to achieving her dreams at Arizona State University. She graduated from high school this year, acing all her homeschool classes quickly. She will start college classes this summer with a goal to work for NASA as an engineer. “I just had a goal that I wanted to get to,” Alena said. “I always dreamed of being an engineer because throughout my life, I liked building.” 

According to her mother, Dr. Daphne McQuarter, who has home and world schooled her, admits working for NASA has been Alena’s dream since an early age. “At 4 years old, she said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to work for NASA, and I’m going to go up there.’ She would point to the stars,” said Dr. Daphne. “She just had a gift for numbers and Legos and science, so I started nurturing that gift.”

Her mother told IssuesMatter exclusively that Alena worked hard and has been doubling up on her course, and has already begun taking college courses. She actually had no idea that Alena applied for college. She said Alena went and filled out the FAFSA form herself and surprised her mom.

Alena chose to attend ASU because they have a partnership with NASA and offer the Space Exploration program. The overachiever will be obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Astronomical and Planetary Science with a double degree in Chemistry! Alena has the goal of becoming the youngest black woman to work for NASA once she graduates at 16. She is also the youngest member of NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers.) We here at IssuesMatter Wise MS Alena Much Success.